Cane Garden Bay

Top choice in Tortola


Cane Garden Bay is probably on the postcard that drew you to the British Virgin Islands. The gently sloping crescent of sand hosts plenty of beachside bars and water-sports vendors renting kayaks and paddleboards. It’s a popular yacht anchorage, and becomes a full-on madhouse when cruise ships arrive in Road Town and shuttle passengers over for the day. It's the island's main party beach, but you can't deny its beauty and good-time vibe. Live bands often rock the bars.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Tortola attractions

1. Callwood Rum Distillery

0.22 MILES

Just off the North Coast Rd at the west end of Cane Garden Bay, this is the oldest continuously operating distillery in the Eastern Caribbean. The…

2. Sage Mountain National Park

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At 1716ft, Sage Mountain rises higher than any other peak in the Virgin Islands. Seven trails crisscross the surrounding 92-acre park, including the main…

3. Brewers Bay

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Shady, tree-lined Brewers has decent snorkeling and a more tranquil scene than you'll find at nearby Cane Garden Bay – possibly because getting here…

4. North Shore Shell Museum

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5. Apple Bay

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Apple Bay is long and narrow, and is known as the ‘surfing beach,’ especially from late December to March, when the consistent swells roll in. It’s not a…

6. JR O’Neal Botanic Gardens

2.33 MILES

These elegantly dilapidated 4-acre gardens provide a shady refuge from Road Town’s hullabaloo and heat. Benches are set amid indigenous and exotic…

7. Methodist Church

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Flanking the north side of the prison, this working Methodist house of worship dates from 1924. It’s a fine example of classic West Indian timber-framed…

8. HMS Prison

2.4 MILES

Located at the heart of Main St, these stark, white rubble walls date to the 18th century and mark the oldest building in Road Town. The prison sits empty…